Bangladeshi militants keep security agencies on their toes

August 13, 2012 13:39 IST

A terror alert has been issued in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh about a possible sabotage of the railways by militants from Bangladesh. The alert mentions that militants from Bangladesh could try and blow up the railway line between Mysore and Srirangapatanam in Karnataka.

On Sunday, an alert about a possible hijack attempt and another about a possible car bomb being planted in Ahmedabad was issued by the Intelligence Bureau.

Intelligence agencies have been keeping a watch on some outfits based in Bangladesh that may be involved in the recent clashes in Assam and the violence that broke out in Mumbai on Saturday.

Ever since the clashes in Assam flared up, these militant outfits had shifted their focus from West Bengal to the north-eastern state.

Organisations such as MULTA, based in Assam, are suspected of seeking assistance from militants in Bangladesh to carry out their subversive activities in India.

According to Intelligence Bureau officials, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Kerala and Karnataka are the strongholds of these militants.

Bangladeshi militants, who have maintained a low profile for a while, have realised that the simmering communal tension in Assam gives them the perfect opportunity to strike back. Such incidents often lead to immense unrest and resentment, giving militants the perfect breeding ground for recruitment of cadres.

The situation is tense and each wing of the state police ought to be on a strict vigil, according to a senior official. Intelligence agencies are also keeping a close eye on outfits based in Pakistan, as they too may try to exploit and worsen the situation.